I would first like to apologize for finally taking the time to sit down and blog after months of a hiatus. To your disappointment, I am writing about the strugglez of teaching the kiddos of Beaufort how to write.

It has been occupying each moment of my working day for the past two weeks and is the first thing in some time that has sparked my flame to blog.

And one more thing prior to me continuing, look what a former student tagged me in on facebook.

Oh, the jokes.Better yet, the accuracy.

As an educator, we all ought to incorporate writing in to our content areas.

Furthermore, as one in the English realms, we actually dream of perfecting our high school student's craft and drooling over the inspirational essays the compose. ​

expectation

reality

Fortunately for me, I am a product of the Beaufort County School District, from grades 7-12, and for my post secondary education, as well. That being said, I may have been a bit naive thinking I would hop into the profession and change the writing game, but at least I knew what I was getting myself into. It isn't as if I hadn't seen the type of writing my peers were producing in comparison to mine.

Previous to attending Robert Smalls, I was educated K-6 in California.

According to USA Today, California is ranked number 21 in the Nation amongst to 50 states. Take a guess as to what South Carolina is supposedly ranked (notice, I say supposedly, because I know data can be a bit jinky.

What do you think sc is ranked in education?

Oddly enough, this data surprised me a bit. I had expected California to be much higher, and South Carolina to be even lower (as if 41 isn't low enough).

Anyways, just to confirm, South South Carolina and California only have a 5 state gap in ranking, as CA is number 35 and SC is number 41. Looking a bit closer, the two aren't really that much different, statistically.

before getting too sidetracked...

I'd always just taken the assumption that I had more advanced reading and writing skills because I attended school in California for my primary education. However, I guess to the flip side, I am terrible at math. If the Cali education system was so high and mighty as I had assumed, I ought to be equally balanced in all areas and not solely reading and writing.

Back to what I'd meant to focus on, the teaching struggle.

Early on, I realized students were truly struggling in writing. Kids can read, sure, physically pull the words off paper and express a summary of what they've read. Cross the bridge to the side of analysis, evaluation, or composing opinions-- and Lort. There is a struggle.

I'd initially been introduced to the education world with small group tutoring for seniors at Battery Creek. These were all students who were struggling in English class two months away from graduation. That being said, much of this could have been avoided if they had turned in more work. At the end of the day, prior to the grading shift switching the a lump sum of students grade to be made of 60% for summative assignments (test, projects, essays) and a smaller portion of 40% formative (classwork, homework, quizzes), if enough work was done, students would have been able to skate skipping out on the writing assignments that they feared to take on.

Nonetheless, much of my initial hands on contact with seniors was giving them 1:1 attention to complete a research essay that required them to use the MLA format, research a debatable topic and take a stance presenting where they stand. This seemed to be as if it were going to be a breeze, but for students to just get the paper set up in MLA format took about 30 minutes, at minimum.

The actual process of actually writing, the incorporating their research, formulating actual unique thoughts, supporting those thoughts with quotes and explanation to connect all the dots, at times, was not even possible. To simple get 5 paragraphs on paper, regardless to information cited, punctuation, spelling, grammar, diction-- any of that, became enough for the teacher of record.

Granted, I was just a lowly tutor. I was there to make sure kids crossed the finish line-- not exactly produce an army of well articulated writers. I suppose that is why I have a growing fascination with how low of expectations students get away with as far as writing goes, prior to entering high school.

in 2014, After tutoring for a few months, i delivered canon in july.

I then, in August of 2014 was offered a position teaching full time at Batter Creek High, where I would be able to continue working with seniors, but as a full time teacher. This allowed me to move what I had been doing while tutoring into my own hands as a new wave of seniors full time reading, writing, and researching guide.

I think it is safe to say, for those who had me while I taught at Battery Creek High from 2014-2018, we spend time reading and annotating British Literature and writing. Since I began teaching at TCL in 2015, I fell more obsessed with the writing process and how little we ship our students off to college actually knowing.

Oh, the English teacher guilt I have suffered wishing I had the tools and time to teach my student babies more.

It becomes quite the task for teachers to manage so many students and attempt to bring them from having elementary and middle school writing skills to that of entering a professors classroom prepared to compose an essay that would rate a passing grade in a matter of a year (or semester since we only get August to December or January to May with a semesterly wave of students now).

Oh, and hey, can you write me a letter of recommendation saying how awesome I am-- even if perhaps I am literally just a low-average student?

Oh, and hey, I will also be missing about 10-20 classes this semester. And coming late often.

Oh and hey, I also am not going to college and do not care about your class, but you're "cool," so I'll turn in work sometimes.

Oh, heyyyy, I didn't get to turn in my late work because well, I work, and take care of my siblings and cousins when I get off, and we don't have WiFi, and my data on my phone is up, so I couldn't do it on there either, and can I borrow a dollar?

This year I have been making my best effort to run a highly writing enriched class. After spending time tutoring, working summer school, teaching high school seniors, and college students, I know our high schoolers lack the fundamentals of composing a well developed piece. Of all things, that is where students struggle the most. Even if one can read hundreds of pages, comprehend all material, pass a multiple choice exam on that-- when it comes to articulating thoughts, analyzing material, locating evidence to support their ideas, and connecting dots for readers (while doing so int he proper format AND managing to actually keep the readers interest) must be a skill mastered early on.

This year i have the joy of teaching freshman and sophomores at beaufort high.

Two weeks ago, on Friday, September 28, I collected a baseline data for required progress monitoring. Now, at this point, students had spent a August to current time in my class, building writing fluency by doing daily writings between 1 paragraph to 1 page. These were to get students comfortable with writing-- simply getting thoughts to paper (well, really thoughts to tablets since we are paperless).

I told students the writing would count as a quiz grade, which counts as 60% of their grade ad to put their best effort into just one paragraph, answering one question and citing evidence from the book to support their opinions

Student A sample from 9/28/18

It is pretty obvious that the tree is unreal. It’s just his big imagination, because he doesn’t see this tree outside or anything; he exclusively sees it in his bedroom. The novel says that, “The nightmare feeling was rising in him,turning everything around him to darkness,making everything seem heavy and imposible, like he’d been asked to lift a mountain with his bare and no one would let him leave until he did”(page).

STUDENT A SAMPLE FROM 10/11/18

A distraction is a something that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else. Some teens will argue that they aren’t distracted by their cell phones. However students depend on cell phones for things such as: writing an essay and answering algebraic problems. Some even use their device for sharing test answers with the class by air dropping. In the article entitled "Help! I can't put down my Phone" it states that "When technology does everything, however, it's easy to become dependent on it"(Kaminski 9). If students didn't have their phone in class they wouldn't be able to airdrop any answers for a test. Nor find an essay and answers to their problems. Not only do students have phones in class, they seem to take them everywhere.

Student B sample from 9/28/18

the monstrous tree is real. Although the tree only appears in dreams i believe its to not scare Connor away. The tree is trying to save Connor from his mother not his grandmother but Connor doesn't realize it yet. Connor’s step grandmother is trying to help him even though he doesn’t realize that

Student B Sample from friday, 10/11/18

Although cell phones were a big improvement in technology, it also revolutionized the way we socialize globally. Later on that became a problem. In today's society most people seem to be on there phone more than any other thing they choose to do that day. According to the article " Help I Cant Put Down My Phone" Kids use there phone for over two hundred minutes a day. A kid from the article said "Honestly I expected 500 minutes." The reason most kids are always on there phone is because of social media apps like Snapchat and Instagram. These apps allow teens to keep up with there friends and post pictures. 94% of teenagers have social media apps on their phone. Some teenagers use these apps so they feel less lonely.

student C Sample from 9/28/18

Although it is obvious thart this “monster” is not real. This monster is only seen by conor. The monster walks to conors window at night while he is sleeping. As it is stated in the “breakfast” chapter “when he’d opened his eyes this morning. The first thing he’d looked at was his window. It had still been there of course no damage at all, no gaping hole into the yard.” This means the yew tree getting out the ground to walk to his window at night is just an imagination because there is no damage done to the house or in the yard.

student c sample 10/11/18

In today's society, teens use their cellular device throughout the day. Teens use their phone for school work which distracts them from learning. In the article "Help I Can’t Put My Phone Down" research says “My phone causes distractions that makes me procrastinate” (Kaminski 3) so that means smart phones today distracts teens from getting their work done. Students should turn their phone in at the beginning of class because it can eliminate distractions in school. By turning in their devices, students grades will increase tremendously. With teens today in high school they tend to procrastinate, so when they get to adulthood they try to do the same thing.

This, is me. In class, deep down inside. Even though i keep complaining that they need to fix more, try harder, use a more enhanced word, nope-- that word is raggedy. do better, better, better.

It's the little baby victories, like a paragraph looking better in 13 days (8 school days if you do not count the nothingness they betook in on weekend and the blustery day for the wind speeds we got off).

Are these second samples from each student perfectly crafted pieces of work sent from the composition Gods themselves. No. But damnit, I am proud that they are getting somewhere.

And then I am like, oh yeah, that's why I love teaching. Because these my sweet little headaches are actually so very capable of learning, and growing, and expressing actual ideas that have just been buried down in their dusty little heads. Somewhere under though, it's all there.

Faith, trust, and pixie dust, y'all.

Or actually...

Sit down, please.i am not in the mood for none of the games today.i don't have the time and nor do you.nope, i cannot help you, you've been on the phone, help yourself.that sounds raggedy, try harder.nope. just no.I can only help one of y'all at a time.nope. still nope.ma'am, do not come to me asking for more time tomorrow.ummm, that's half right. now keep going.

But, whe i can finally say, "yes, you got it." ​Oh, the little dumb smile they truy so hard to hide makes my 11 days of walking cicles and being drug from desk to desk, so, so worth it.

"I don't Give a fuck"

You were to not care.Not to give any damn.Have no fucks to give.It don't even matter.

So then why are we a generation so dedicated to not giving a fuck, when lowkey, we are at home looking like this:

So, I will confess: sometimes we do give a fuck.

Below are an assorted list of things I do give a fuck about. I will then proceed to share my moment of growth for not giving a fuck about something that could have potentially been very give-a-fuck worthy.

Thingstogiveafuckabout

1. My children getting to school on time

This is serious. I feel like shit mom of the year when I am running late and have to sign the kids in (especially since I am an educator who talks mass shit when first period begins and I have 10 of 27 students present in my first period).

2. My students liking me

While the amount of trash talked is unmatchable and I have classic Snowden face that screams sheer annoyment, I know if kids do not like their teacher, they will not learn. My students give me a headache, and even though I may call them snotty nosed, stank breathed, raggedy, cry baby, losers, brats, and peasants... It is with love. And I do want them to like me

3-15 because no explanation is needed beuase i am ready to get to my no-give-a-fuk adult moment.

3. Gifs. Tacos. Popcorn. Hot Tea. Sushi. Arroz Ranchero.4. Getting my child support on time.5. 8 hours sleep.6. ELIMINATING COFFEE FROM MY DIET.7. Blogging more consistently.8. Getting brown skinned in the summer.9. My kids not knowing they stress me out, sometimes. 10. Getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy.11. Good health (like I am trying to make the YMCA and eating no fast food part of my life) 12. Growing the booty.13. Getting a fill when my nails are on their last limb.14. Massages from Jeremiah (and hugs and kisses too).15. Canon leading the girls in prayer and behaving like a gentleman.

Now for the one time i realized i didn't give a fuck.

And yes, I am dramatic, but usually I would have cared, so it was a hair flip moment for me. Let me live the greatest version of my life, y'all.

That time i didn't give a fuck:

Dealing with significant other's exes can be a challenge. I am blessed that Taliyah's mother is a mermaid like goddess. I say this for many reasons, one of which is one of the first things she said about me to Jeremiah was that I had a "cool blog." Therefore, she is infinitely gold-- and she makes coparenting a breeze, which is the biggest gift.

Anyhow, when I was approached by somebody I've known for many moons, telling me they knew of a different ex talking about me, I laughed.

If you know me, you know I love a good laugh.

My initial response was, "What did that bitch say about me?"

But, before I got a response I actually said...

And I meant it. I meant it so deeply that I said, "You know, you don't even have to tell me if you don't want to. It ain't even important."

​And I think it is better that way.

Some time has even passed, and it is still nice knowing that I could have pressed and pried and get the scoop, but didn't give enough of a fuck to do so. ​

and little victories like that are empowering.

Not that all human's opinions are not freedom of speech, or that other's opinions and critique are not valid.

Simply it was nice to let her salty ass comments remain just that, her own salty ass comment.

​If she wanted to share these thoughts, I suppose she would have touched base with me.

And allowing another's words to place a strain upon your peace is for the small, silly minded.

Embrace the no fuck.

and if you're wondering why this is in the teacher tales section, it is because i always laugh and ask my students, "so you care what they think?"

And naturally, while I know sometimes we do care, I do not at least a solid portion of the time.

And I always want my students to not.

Now, this is not to be stretched and for my little senior brats to think not to care what their parents, teachers, adult family members, church, employers, etc think.

NO SHIT, MIND YOUR REPUTATION IN THAT ASPECT.

But when a hater, ex, old friend, associate has something to think...

Do not give a fuck, and mean it.

Do not mean it to make them feel irrelevant, or small, or unimportant (even though they are).

Sometimes people are jealous and have a funny way of showing it. Even better, is when someone is jealous and they don't even comprehend what your life is truly like.

Like, my life is hard, it is trying, it is busy, it is detailed, it is chaotic. I work like 3-4 jobs. I know this-- whatever you have to say, is in no regards a testimony to myself as a human.

It speaks volumes on others when they allow their bitterness and insecurities eat their soul, to only say bad on you.

And in no means am I saying that I never drop a shit talking line or 12272√(26)-26/2+17. But what I can say is I am trying to get better.Ok, that is a lie.I talk shit too.However, I am certainly wise enough to know that the mutual shit spoken upon me, is to not give a fucketh about.

Honesty, it is one of my many curses. yeah, yeah, i talk shit.

If I don't like you,I will be polite, almost no matter what. It is a manner of growing up and understanding it is okay to not be an agreeable match with everybody.

If I do not want to hang out with you, I will not say, "I have diarrhea, I am sick," I will say I do not want to hang out with you. Ya know?​

P.S. Happy Birthday, dad.

Love and hugs and a milli kisses!And for any rebuttals, stop reading my blog and block me (or pretend as if this were never seen).​​Cheers,Ty Snowden

I will not even drag y'all through the drama of what all we do besides teaching.

I will say I've always felt the biggest thing we do as educators is build relationships. Teaching should be number one though, right?

The times have changed since I graduated in 2008. We are expected to teach the whole child-- their brain, heart, soul-- everything. We wear lots of hats and wind up playing teacher, mom, sister, friend, and worst enemy. And I cannot deny...

Sometimes that's draining. We have to wipe our emotions off our sleeves and show the fuck up for them.

I feel when I was in high school, we turned in our worksheets, never talked to teachers, and that was that. And sadly, it's a running joke in Beaufort to say, "You know you went to Creek" as an insult to our intelligence and education instilled at BC prior to the Whale Branch split.

I never want that to be a running joke for my students.

They know shit. They are everything.

I went to TCL and USCB and I was even illy unprepared for those local colleges. I cannot image the horror if I'd left home and went to a large university-- I'd have flunked out.

I asked a handful of old classmates what they felt they got out of attending school at Creek and they had assorted answers.​​

​All we did was learn books. Stuff I read back then almost doesn't pertain to life today and come to find out many books were missing valued information (as well as pages)

​I feel like I was prepared enough for the next level which was college. It was then that I started to prepare myself for what was out there in the real world. During college is when I began taking on real responsibilities that would prepare me to handle life on my own.

I was unprepared as far as from what I learned from Creek. High school was like a pass or fail class in college. Show up you pass. Don't you fail. If you learn something in the process great. If not, ehh no big deal you don't really need it anyway.

I don't feel like I was prepared for college but I don't feel it was creeks job to prepare me for the real world. I think it didn't shelter me that's for sure. That I appreciate. I was exposed to things but I don't think I was prepared for the real world and going to college really help me figure out who I was, who I wanted to be, and where I wanted to be.

I didn't learn anything there, like dead serious. I B.S.-ed my way through high school copying other people's work. Social skills were on us to figure out and life skills... (Hell, I didn't even know about ACT/SAT until 12th grade). By then, I felt it was to late. Honestly, nobody seemed to care man, for real, so I didn't!

​I learned the most from Ms. Peebles (the chemistry teacher) I learned a lot because her class was the most challenging for me. I got a 19 on my first test, and that made me hit the books, Stay after school to understand, and she used the smart board a lot. Plus the experiments were hands on and I'm a hands on learner so... Socially, I learned how to hang around everyone. I didn't have any specific group but could talk to just about everyone because of all the extracurricular activities.

I've heard chatter that I am a "bitch." Blah Blah. You right. My ex-husband could have told you that.

They could have truly roasted me in that aspect, but most decided to answer number two.

I asked for permission to use their first name and pictures, so you could get a vibe of their sweet soul as reading their words. ​

So meet my sweet (and not so sweet) student babies and their opinions on what they "got" out of sitting through english 4 with homie snowden. (Or a time i pissed them off to the max, because you know...)

Mousey was never my student. She was the captain of my step team-- and I just supervised. She ran that team. We grew up together as kids-- she was at my parents house sharing everything Jade and I did for years on end. I love her.

Also, this is the longest one. And she apologized for not saying enough.

mousey
​2015

I learned how to be patient from being a part of the step team. Having a bunch of teenagers with different attitudes in one room a couple days out of the week cab be hectic, especially for those who had a difficult time learning or getting the rhythm. I gained confidence as a whole because I was put into a position to tell others what to do and you know I was always shy. It helped me come into myself as a person and it made me feel like I could lead people and work with teams. It also humbled me because I had to be fair and know that even though I was in that position to listen ad not make everything about me, it really helped me get out of my comfort zone. I remember I told you I couldn't do it and you were like, "girl, I know you can, you can dance, so I know you can step. If I could step I would do it myself, but I can't." LMFAO. You really motivated me into something I wouldn't have wanted to do, and it was new to the school, so I'm glad I was able to a part of something you started with you being new to the school, as well. I could say more but people keep talking and distracting me.

ShaeLyn
​2017

She was in my honors class and one of the few female students who I never saw speak ill of others. And PS Shae, I had to pull out of my doctorates program, but that's okay.

Okay, so one thing I always noticed (but never mentioned in your class) is that you actually work SO hard. Between you having kids, teaching at both Battery Creek and TCL, and you still going to school, that's a lot! And it's kind of shown me that it is possible. I know this isn't really from your class itself, but it's something you showed/taught me lot. Most teachers at that school don't actually care about their jobs and you truly enjoy teaching and the subject which you teach. You were one of my favorite classes I had in high school and I hope you keep working as hard to reach your goals.

One thing that really irritated my very last nerve was doing annotations. When we first began doing, them I felt they were so useless and unnecessary; but quickly I learned they were an amazing tip. They made studying easier, because I was able to look at the notes I made early instead of rereading an entire text. Also, it made me show down and understand and analyze the text. Truly, we got into multiple arguments about how you were not going to make me annotate any work. But, I am truly grateful for the patience and understanding you had for me. You made English fun again, something I didn't care for for a long time.

Sonja

I made him move into a higher level class because he was just so sharp. Top 5 in the running for us clashing heads. He knows this.

P.S. If you were in my S1 honors class last year, you remember the jokes I kept on Sonja and Shae, which is why I put them near on here. I will never quit my roast.

Tj
​2016

He has a crush on my little sister Also, he gave me Hell all year. As he is one of the smartest (and laziest) young men I know. I cried when he joined the Army and thanked me. He was my favorite basketball player to watch.

​The most valuable thing I got from your class was maturity. You created a mature learning environment for me and my classmates which is uncommon in high school.

Hannah

​She was one of my poetry babies and always has so much passion in her soul for all she does.

​You taught me the value of love. That I do not have to give love for the sole purpose that I want to receive love. That my love is a special part of me that not everyone I encounter needs to experience. That my love is most importantly meant to be given to myself.

This kid was in "the class" that teachers would pray for me for. It was 13 students, 10 of which were males. They joked me to death and made me realize I cannot judge students off of other teachers negativity. He and I had so so so many just hearty life talks and his friends favorite joke was saying his mouth was stank.

adonis
​2016

​My most valuable thing I got from your class was the opportunity to learn from a magnificent teacher. The talks we had about life and the future were very valuable because you helped me guide myself on the right path. I need more positive people in my life like you. I'm trying too only surround myself by positive people. Thank you for being there.

kels
​2017

Kels is one of the sweetest and deepest thinking souls I've met. The talks her and I have had can never possibly be forgotten.

​The most valuable thing I got from this class is being able to go to somebody to talk to when you felt like you had nobody. Even if it was dealing with you failing a test and it upset you, Ms. Snowden was always there to help me get back up and have the confidence I needed to try again. You rarely have teachers that show they care for your learning the way she does. Going to her and talking to her was the best part of my whole senior year. She made me feel so much better and I valued that. I'm so thankful to have had a teacher like her.

I had the pleasure of having this jokester in 2015 and 2017. I laughed until I cried when he sat in a broken chair and fell to the floor. Also, he was always game to read Shakespeare, Mockingjay, or any other work in class for me. He also has a dope blog he made in my class. He is amazing

Diamonte
​2017

Ms. Snowden, you never made me angry or upset. I loved your class. I learned a lot thanks to you. The most valuable thing I got from your class was my writing improved since my sophomore year and you helped me with my grammar.

Jess
​2015

Her and Jimmy are my favorite couple, and I tell them far too often (on social media, at Waffle House, and Waterfest, mostly). She also went on a family vacation with my family when I was about 20 and tried to cover up a fart, and failed miserably at it. I still make fun of her for that to this day.

​The most valuable thing I got from your class was learning to always believe in yourself when things are the hardest, and to always laugh & smile. Things weren't easy for me going through high school, and you understood that about me. You helped me accomplish whatever I could, and without you, and you pushing me I probably would've never graduated!

bri
2017

Holy attitude. Bri and I would have such hate in our eyes on some days, whew. But I always felt as if it was little sister hate. Where she would want to fight me, but would still love me after, if that makes sense.

You didn't make me angry, I just felt like you were challenging me. I had to leave class early and you said I wouldn't be able to balance it so I should get out and go into Mr. Brown's class. So I went home and thought about it and I said I would prove you wrong... and I did. I think I passed with like a High B. You're really good at challenging people, or at least... I think you are. I'll use this same encouragement when I start my college classes.

sam
​2016

If you read my blog, you already know about Sam.

The poems were all stupid! Haha, no jk, but the most valuable thing I learned was to be glad that we were young. And we had a chance to fuck up in school because the real world sucks, but take everything you get out of life and cherish it, because tomorrow it can be all gone! Love you Ty!

Jason
​2015

Jason was a gem who cracked too many jokes (that were funny) and was mature enough to understand my death look that meant shut up. Also, in my defense, the test was the next day ANYWAYS and I allow retests

This one time you made me angry was when one day you wasn't in the mood or somebody pissed you off and I guess my turnt class(3B) was making it worse while we were reading something, but you stopped everything and threw a goddamn test (not no quiz) a test and I failed that shit. Then you rudely told me that I was then failing your class.

I wanted to curse yo ass out sooo bad but I let you have it.

The most valuable thing I got from your class was work hard (Now) play harder(Later). You are the key to your own future well this is from personal convoys included.

carson
​2017

You always made me angry in your class because you saw something in me that I could never see
​The most valuable thing I learned in your class, besides the obvious, would be to just live life because no matter what you can always laugh about it later.

Sylvester was definitely the little brother I never had. He made me cry in class once, real tears for bullying me about getting dumped. And shoutout to LJ for getting me Waterfest tickets this year! A forever burned in my brain student.

LJ
2017

You know what made me upset, you not giving me that 100 and leaving me at a 99.

But you never made me angry. Hmmmm a valuable lesson I learned.... I learned that you can't always listen to what previous students say because you're completely different than what they said. Your work wasn't hard like they said, you weren't mean and rude like they said. Soooo, you can't judge a teacher by what you hear.
​

stephen
​2015

I've known this kid for far longer than my teaching career runs. He was always so hip to my jokes, and is an unmatchable clown to have around.

The most valuable thing I got from your class was finding a way to use my education. Going completely "pencil-free" was a new way to do assignments gave us a sense of what college and jobs in the real world is like. Technology is changing around us everyday so go with the flow.

breezus
​2015

The love I have running through my veins for this woman.
​She said add her on snap: freeesosa

You always used to stand by your door before class started and one day I didn't see you. So I started yelling YES MRS. SNOWDEN GOT A SUB!!! But when I walked past your class, I saw you standing by the board. I was so fucking mad because I knew we had a test.
You taught me that even tho we have kids young that we can still kick ass and be successful. Even if our kids are fighting over the last pop tart.?

Oh, this sweet girl. I just pulled her hair at Waterfest. She has a sweet, sweet, heart and was always one of those that I felt connected to inevitably.

Sherry
​2015

The most valuable thing I learned from your class would be how to put together words that were in Old English into the English we use now and how poetry explains more than we think it does. And to learn, but not in a boring way.

Cie
​2016

This sweet girl has saved my life by picking up Jizelle from school nights I teach at TCL. She then deals with all three of my kids until I get home. We have long conversations and laughs. I am forever grateful for her.

​The most valuable thing I learned from your class was time management; if it wasn't for your class I would procrastinate everything

This child is one of my forever students. I taught her senior year, then her first two English classes at TCL as well. She always is ready to laugh.

kiesha
​2016

​The most valuable thing I learned in your class is that I can always do better than just "good". Meeting a standard is good but go above and beyond the standard to be GREAT. You can always do better . ​

thEn my two anonymous:

A time when I got angry at you in class was when I didn't turn in my homework or didn't do the classwork assignment for that day and you entered 0's instead of just looking out for a young brother. The most valuable thing I got out of your class is to never give up.

When you were being trifling in class and stopped the movie so we ended up doing class work. ? That everyone else can screw off. You taught us to be ourselves especially in our writing. With the how systematic they have everything it was nice to be able to take writing and English into our own hands and have our way with it.

My students are always my saviors, but they'd never know it. In some weird way, they drive me mad, but I love 'em.

It just so happened over this lousy week I had, there were students who came to me with questions. While I am in my head, forcing myself to show up to work, barely eating, and running off coffee and no sleep—they were expecting answers. I could not let their questions and pain fall on deaf ears because I was moping.

I am making a great attempt to find something beautiful in each day, as I am in my climb upward. So here is my Friday dose of sunshine.​Considering I am a teacher, I have made my students blog. They made websites. Personalized them. Shared secrets and laughs on them. Whispers and screams. They were not excited about these blogs back in February when I made them create them, but you have no idea of the talent and raw emotion that fill these seats in my classroom. And by damn, if they can pick their head up, come to school all day, deal with the teen pressures of life, turn in all of these senior projects, and work after school (not getting off until I am already asleep), who the Hell am I to wallow. Below are words from my sweet, sweet students. Pulled from their blogs. On their worst days. They are inspiring.

Student one.

how to not get a boyfriend

Hello my fellow single ladies. Don’t you love it how you could never get out of the talking stage? Me too! I’ve been doing it for years now that some may even say I’m a pro. If you’re wanting to know how to stay single with cats and cry yourself to sleep because you feel like you’re not good enough, keep reading.

First Step: Get attached really fast; like the first day you start talkingSecond Step: Tell all your friends that you have a new boo; it’ll make explaining why you two aren’t talking anymore after a week 10 times betterThird Step: Text him really fast and show that you’re emotionally ready for a bf; He’ll enjoy how eager you are to date him after 2 days and no he doesn’t find it creepyFourth Step: Stalk him on social media and question who Jessica is; When he says Jessica is his cousin don’t believe him and be salty at himFifth Step: Get Insecure that you’re not good enough to be with an attractive man like himSixth Step: Make plans to meet up and hang out; It’s better when they don’t show up or call the date offLast Step:Now here’s where you have two choices: Curse them out and end it with anger OR you could play dumb and think that when he isn’t texting you back he’s just busy; even better to double text him.Now ladies follow these steps and you’ll come out with no boyfriend and a shattering heart. It’s okay because thanks to social media there are dating apps. There you can keep thinking you found “the one” even when it’s the fifteenth guy. It’s okay though, I’m not judging. Prosper my ladies and let society manipulate you to think you need love to have any value in this world. If not, keep buying cats.

​

​Student two.

relationships ain't shhh

"I love you, I care about you, you're not the problem, but I'm not happy, and I don't want to be with you."

Very recently, I was dumped, and I'm not going to lie, it hasn't been great. But I've had to confront a lot of issues head-on as a result of the fallout, and for that part, I'm almost grateful? I've learned a lot about myself, and I guess that's something positive I can take away from the experience. Doesn't mean I haven't cried myself to sleep every night. Doesn't mean I don't even know what to do with myself half the time anymore because I barely know who I am without him. Doesn't mean I want to move on. It hurts like crazy, but most everyone has been where I am right now.

High school is not a time to be meeting people and making plans to stay with them forever. You don't know anything. You are a child. No, he doesn't love you. Yes, she will leave you. No, he wasn't asleep at home. Yes, she was with her ex when you thought she was spending time with her mom. Everyone lies, and everyone makes mistakes (cue Hannah Montana song). Hurt people hurt people. I know I'm not the greatest person, and I won't deny that if confronted with the fact. But that doesn't mean I didn't try. I'd give anything to repair the damage I've done, and I'm sure that means something to someone, but I'm sure he isn't the slightest bit sorry for the part he played in our downfall, and it isn't my fault that he doesn't care to fix it. But that's a personal choice. You cannot make someone love you. You giving a guy or girl your all doesn't mean they have to do the same. You should not expect their love. They owe you nothing. That's just something you have to learn to accept.

As for mending your broken heart, do whatever you feel is best for you, be it working out until you're about to die, eating your feelings, partying with your friends, or kissing every person you know. You do you. No one expects you to be in your right mind right after you've had your heart ripped out of your chest. It's okay to not be okay. But know that you will make it. You will matter to someone, no matter how insignificant you feel now. You shouldn't feel used. You cared, even if they didn't. Your time wasn't wasted if you were happy. Time heals all. So chin up.

​Student three.

to future me

​The future me better be a better and more confident person. I want to be happy with who i am and not afraid to do stuff. You should always want to work on the things you are unhappy with or know you need to work on.

10 things I’d like to tell future me is 1: be happy with your looks, 2: be happy with your personality, 3: be more confident in yourself and what you’re doing, 4: learn how to do things on your own, 5: don’t be afraid to commit, 6: look at the better and not the worse, 7: do not care what other people think/ say about you, 8: stand up for yourself, 9: don’t let “friends” walk all over you, 10: don’t be shy. All of these things are the things i want to work on most and be better at. I need to do a lot of work to better myself. I will never truly be myself if i don’t work on these.

Everybody has things they need to work on but some don’t do it and some do. Some people are better at hiding the things they know they need to work on and others, like me, don’t.

Student 4: A darling girl. Lives with her mother, step dad, and boyfriend of two years. He bought her a promise ring earlier this year—they are adorable. They are having a tough week, as well, right now. I myself k now the challenge of living with boyfriends while still in high school. But her words here, make me warm.

​Student four.

dear future husband,

I hope I make you happy. I hope you make me happy. I hope our children are happy. I hope we live in a three bedroom home with a giant backyard so we can adopt at least two dogs and have a garden. I hope we live somewhere, but I also hope we live somewhere that snows. There's nothing like waking up to the beautiful white blanket of snow, even if that means we're stuck in the house all day. I hope that we're successful in our daily lives and I hope that neither of us or our children have to go without or feel less than. I hope you know that I'll always be here for you and I hope our kids know that we'll always there for them as well. I hope the love we have for one another never falters nor fades. I have a big heart and I pray you have one too. I hope the both of us live to be at least 100, if not, I settle for 75 maybe. I hope you still love me after I get older and those fine laugh lines start to settle in my skin, but just know that it's okay because you're the one who caused them.

I hope that we're able to laugh and laugh until tears stream down our cheeks because whatever it is that we're laughing is just THAT funny. I hope you're willing to put up with my attitude and my emotions, as I will be willing to put up with yours. I hope that we never become too much for each other. I know that we'll have disagreements, but I know that we can make it through them. I hope there's never a thought in your mind to have a lack of faithfulness. I will make a promise to you now that I will fight for you, but not over you. If you ever have reservations tell me and we can try to assess the situation and work on it. Future husband, I promise to remind you often of my love for you. I promise to make you feel important as long as you do the same. Dear future husband, I hope you know that I will love you until our days become shorter and our breaths shallower until there is nothing left but the memories we made along our long journey.

so, we have to remember, everybody has their days. there is inspiration all around. everybody makes choices. love sucks, sometimes. there is people counting on you to straighten up and keep it moving. and it was a shocking but refreshing thing to hear one of their little voices echo...

Ms. Snowden, get your shit together.

Lots of love, tons of kisses, yes-- I am still internally a little salty.